Procedure to be followed by Foreigners during medical treatment in India

Embassy of India

Doha

Procedure for foreigners who are already in India on valid Visas for taking medical treatment in India.

Government of India has revised procedure to facilitate medical treatment for foreign nationals, who are already in India on valid visas and having difficulties in taking medical treatment, in the case of sickness during their stay in India, as below:-

A).In respect of those who are holding long duration visas of 6 months or more [other than those mentioned in sub-para(C)below]

i.If the foreigner is suffering from a minor medical condition, which needs only OPD consultation/treatment and does not need hospitalization and prolonged treatment, then he/she is allowed to take treatment without applying for conversion of his/her visa into Medical Visa.

ii.In case of sudden illness, which requires continuous treatment of less than 180 days or the stay stipulation period, if any, stipulated on the visa, whichever is earlier, the foreigner or medical representative should approach the office of the concerned FFRO and submit a medical certificate from a Government/ ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research)/ NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers)/ MCI (Medical Council of India)/ CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) recognized hospital, mentioning the medical condition and recommendation for treatment along with the duration of treatment. FRRO concerned, after satisfaction that the foreigner has fallen ill while in India, instead of converting the visa to medical visa, will grant permission for taking treatment by issuing a medical permit of limited edition i.e. less than 180 days or the stay stipulation, whichever is earlier, against a normal fee. The primary visa will not be cancelled and the foreigner may take treatment till 180 days or the stay stipulation period, if any, prescribed on the visa, whichever is earlier. After the period of treatment, the primary visa shall continue to be valid for its normal duration.

iii.In case the treatment exceeds 180 days or the stay stipulation period, if any, stipulated on the visa, the primary visa may be converted to ‘Medical’ visa by the FRRO concerned and extended as per extant provisions applicable to normal Medical Visa after collecting necessary fees. In such cases, the primary visa will be suspended.

iv.It may not be necessary to covert the dependent visa of the dependents of the principal visa holder to Medical Attendant Visa in case the visa of the principal visa holder or of one of the dependents on dependent visa is converted to Medical visa. In such cases, the dependents issued with the dependent visa will be allowed as Medical Attendant by FRRO concerned without converting the visa to Medical Attendant Visa.

v.On acquisition of fitness certificate, the foreign national will be allowed to resume his/ her activity as per the primary visa subject to approval of FRRO concerned. In such cases, the Medical visa of the foreign national will be re-converted into the primary visa by the FRRO concerned without changing the validity of the primary visa. This re-conversion would be charged with fee required for grant of fresh primary visa as applicable.

vi.Responsibility of intimating the FRRO about the medical treatment shall be with the foreigner himself/ herself and the concerned hospital/clinic, where he/ she intends to take treatment.

(B) In respect of those holding short duration visas of less than 6 months [Other than mentioned in sub-para (C ) below In such cases, the procedure as prescribed in sub-para (A) above will be applicable with the following changes

a).In the event of conversion of the short duration visa to Medical Visa, the primary visa will be cancelled.

b).On acuisition of fitness certificate, the foreign national will be granted exit.

C) Specific provisions relating to foreigners holding ‘X-1’ visa (Person of Indian Origin and children of an Indian citizen/ person of Indian Origin/ OCI cardholder) and ‘X-2’ visa (spouse of an Indian citizen/ Person of Indian Origin/ OCI Cardholder)

A foreigner holding ‘X-1’ visa and ‘X-2’ visa may take treatment in hospitals for any duration without converting their visas to medical visas or medical attendant Visas and without taking any specific permission from FRRO concerned.